Could you first introduce yourself to the reader?
What’s good, people?
My name is Michael Akadiri and like Clark Kent I live a double life. I’m a junior doctor by day and stand-up comedian by night.
How would you describe your show?
No Scrubs is about my life in the NHS, my life outside it, and how these scrubs had me in court!
As I navigate life, I’m either seen in scrubs in the medical sense or seen as a scrub in a 90s R&B TLC sense and I have a lil fun exploring these themes throughout the hour.
Why do you want to perform at Edinburgh Festival Fringe?
Performing an hour of stand up at the Edinburgh Fringe is a coming of age for a comic. An hour means you’ve really arrived on the scene
It’s a brilliant platform to announce myself, showcase myself to the world and I genuinely can’t wait to get started.
What differentiates it from other festivals?
It’s the Olympics of festivals.
It’s the festival every comic wants to tick off.
There are other fantastic festivals that I’d also love to grace during my career notably Just for Laughs and Netflix’s Is a Joke, and I’m hopeful my journey to them starts with Edinburgh this summer!
What first motivated you to enter the industry? Who were your inspirations?
I was motivated by answering the question of whether I’m funny or not and thought stand-up was the most honest forum to find out.
I still perform today as I keep moving these goalposts; I’m currently trying to answer whether I can be funny and interesting for a straight hour.
Comics like Kevin Hart inspire me as they have shown me how global one can take their comedy and brand. Closer to home, Mo Gilligan’s ascendency has been a joy to watch and reinforces the success one can have when the UK supports and nurtures one of its own.
How has your background, upbringing and education had an impact on your artistic career?
I guess one’s upbringing informs their worldview and thus the perspective of the comedy they produce.
Whilst being a doctor automatically puts me in the middle-class bracket, I grew up working class, as a son of Nigerian immigrants. This throws up several dualities such as: being British and Nigerian; growing up working class but now living more middle class; having a life in scrubs but being seen as one without them on.
These complexities can be explored to generate good comedy (the latter being the topic of my debut!) but also they go some way to informing my stance on certain topics or issues.
What is your earliest childhood art memory?
Seeing a painting by Pablo Picasso in primary school. Drawing the equivalent scribble on a piece of paper, colours and all, but getting none of the same love or reviews!
If you didn’t have your current job, what would you probably be doing?
Homicide detective.
I’m a big fan of US reality TV show ‘The First 48’ where detectives have 48 hours to find a lead to solve a murder. I think I’d enjoy the challenge of trying to piece the puzzle together to track down the culprits!
Only downside, it would mean working for the Police. So… Maybe not. Lol.
Did Covid-19 change the way you create work? Do you approach shows with a different mentality now?
Momentarily yes. There was a period were Zoom gigs and performing to parked vehicles was the norm. However, since we’ve returned to performing for live audiences without any restrictions, my approach hasn’t really altered compared to pre pandy.
Describe the last year in 5 words or less?
Pandemonium: Pandemic and private parties.
Do you subscribe to the idea that art should be exempt from ‘cancel culture’?
Art should provoke, push boundaries, challenge common thought – All within the confines of the Equality Act. As long as it’s not hate, then go create!
If you could work with anybody, from any point in history, who would you pick and why?
I’d have to say Patrice O’Neal.
I only discovered him posthumously, a couple years into my career but my goodness, how great was he?
He had the ability to not only challenge contemporary thought but also make you laugh out loud at his point of view. Like a lawyer constructing an argument but generously littered with humour.
I can only imagine how fun and exciting it must have been to share a green room with him.
Laughter and life lessons in abundance!
What advice would you give to someone who wants to take a show up to the fringe?
Leave whatever city, town or village you normally perform in and take your show on the road. Leave your comfort zone and expose yourself to audiences from different ages, demographics and political affiliations.
Your material should be able to hold it’s own wherever it goes.
When and where can people see your show?
We’re down at le Cellar (my French GCSE will not go to waste!), The Cellar at the Pleasance Courtyard everyday 3rd-28th August except the 16th at 8.35pm.
And where can people find, follow and like you online?
There’s only one of me so feel free to catch me across Instagram, Twitter and TikTok at @michaelakadiri.
For those more Facebook inclined I have a comedy page there too.
Come say hi!
Michael Akadiri’s debut stand up show ‘No Scrubs’ will be at the Pleasance Courtyard Cellar at 8.30pm for the month of August for tickets go to www.edfringe.com
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